The National Restaurant Association recently praised passage of a provision that will provide more nutrition information to consumers in chain restaurants across the country. The rule was a component of health care legislation that passed Congress and was signed into law late last month.

The agreement creates a national, uniform standard for chain restaurants with 20 or more locations that would provide customers with a wide range of nutrition information—mirroring the information available on packaged foods—at the point of purchase. Caloric information would be highlighted on menus, menu boards, and drive-thru boards.

"The passage of this provision is a win for consumers and restaurateurs," says Dawn Sweeney, National Restaurant Association president and CEO. "We know the importance of providing consumers with the information they want and need, no matter in which part of the country they are dining.

This legislation will replace a growing patchwork of varying state and local regulations with one consistent national standard that helps consumers make choices that are best for themselves and their families."

The National Restaurant Association co-led an industrywide coalition that worked with stakeholders to provide an approach that gives consumers one more way to live a healthy lifestyle. The nutrition information provision was supported by industry groups and health and consumer advocacy groups, as well as a bipartisan group of House and Senate members. Enactment of the national standard will negate the need for states and localities from pursuing their own legislation or regulations.

Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association claims to be the leading business organization for the restaurant industry, which comprises 945,000 restaurant and food-service outlets and a work force of nearly 13 million employees.